uffert



1 631,843 June 7 2 w. B. UFFERT AUTOMATIC SHAFT LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 13. 1926 Sheets-Sheet 1 gp V [I June 7, 1921, 1,631,843

w. B. UFFERT AUTOMATIC SHAFT LOCK FOR'AUTOMOBILES Filed May 13. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1 7. I 92 w, a. UFFERT AUTOMATIC SHAFT LOCK FUR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 13. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER B. UFFERT, 0F LYNIBROOK, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SHAFT LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

V Application filed May13, 1926. Serial No. 108,836.

This invention relates to and has for one of its objects the provision of a novel, simple and highly ellicient device which shall be adapted to hold an automobile against backward movement should it automatically will not interfere with the starting or reversing of the automobile.

A further object the invention is the provision of a device of the character stated which shall be adapted to be connected to the propeller shaftthrough the medium of the transmission gearing of the automobile.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character stated which can also be employed for the purpose of preventing theft of the antomobile when parked.

With the foregoing and'other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: p

Figurel is atop plan view of an auto-- mobile transmission gearing equipped. with the device, the gears of the former being shown in neutral position and the device in active or automobile holding or looking p0 sition, i

Figure 2 is a similar View with the gears in a forward driving position and the device in inactive position, I

Figure 3 is also a similar view with the gears in reverse driving position and the device in inactive position;

Figuredis a sectional view taken onthe vertical plane indicated by lillelll'lfi l-l of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line6--6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a detail View in side elevation of the shaft and gear of the device;

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the locking sleeve of the device,

Figure 9 is a detail view illustrating the position of the locking sleeve when the ratchets are in engagement, and

Figure 10 is a detailview illustrating the manner in which the locking sleeve is adapted to hold the rotating ratchet out of contact with the stationary ratchet when the automobile is in forward motion.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and designated in the several views of the accompanying drawings, by similar reference (,l'llllrl(jters; y

In the drawings, 1 designates the casing, 2 the clutch shaft, 3 the sliding gear shaft and 4 the counter shaft of transmission gearing for automobiles. The shaft 3 is connected to the propeller shaft of the automobile by a universal joint, not shown. A high speed and clutch gear 5 is carried by the clutch shaft 2. An in'tern'iediate speed and clutch gear (land a low speed and reverse gear are-slidably connected to the shaft 3 by ribs 3 The counter shaft l carries a drive gear 8, a reverse pinion 9, a low speed pinion 1.0 and an intermediate speed pinion 11. A reverse idle gear 12 meshing with the pinion 9, is journaled on a stub shaft 13 carried by the casing 1. During the forward propulsion of the antomobile, the shaft 3 and the low speed and reverse gear 7 rotate in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front, while. during the rearward or reverse propulsion of the aijitomobile, these parts rotate in the reverse or counterclockwise direction. As the transi'nission gearing is of well known construction a further description thereof deemed unnecessary. y The device forming the subject-matter of this invention comprises a shaft 14 and journaled in bearings 15 and 16 provided in the front wall 1 and rear wall 1", respectively, of the casing 1. The shaft 14 is supported by the bearings 15 and 16 for rotary and for forward and rearward endwise movements. A drum gear 17 mounted on and fixed to the shaft 14:, meshes with the low speed and reverse gear 7 and is provided at its rear end with an annular flange 18. A stationary ratchet 19 is located Within the casing 1 and is fixed to the front Wall 1 thereof by screws 19,

with an annular series of teeth 20 which face in a counter-clockwise direction, when viewedfrom the front. A rotating ratchet 21 is iarried by the shaft let 'anc'tis "providedat its front. end with an annular series oi? teeth 22 'which face in'aclockwise direction. when viewed from the front." The ratchct 21 is .securedto the sha ftlifor rotation there- Withand for n' ove 'nent in the direction of 'el' 1 -1er i? v rims of a )1 o the l igtl tl I 8(1 b ie 1 t 11 2 which is engaged with the ratchet and passes through slot in the shaft. A spiral spring 25 moi nted i pon the shaft 1 1; between the gear- 17 and ratchet 21 normally holds the latter engage 'ue 'it @vit h the ratchet 19. The rear end portion of the shaft '14 isprovided with a recess torthe 'eceptionot' a spiral. spring 27'which nor- V nally holds the shaft 14 in its forward position, the spring bearing against the bottom wall ot'tiie recess and a cap 28 removahly applied to the vhearing 16. A'sleeve 29' mounted upon the shaft 1 1' and passes through t'he hearing 15 and ratchets 19aud 21. It is provided with openings '-lOthrough which the "pin 23 passes and which-are substantiallytriangular in contour. The walls 31 of thefopeiiings 30 are of arcuate torm aferent'ial dimension'of the notch 34 is greater than the corresponding dimension of: the lug 35 so as to permit the sleeve 29 to havefa slight.- .rotary motion with respect to the shaft 14:. v a

When the automobile is at rest andvduring any forward spced thereof, the spring 27 yicldiiigly inaint'ains shaft 14 and drum 17 int-he: positions in which they are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 1. The low speed and reverse gear .7 is always in mesh with the gear and 1100 16 With respect to the gear 17 While it is being. engaged with oridisengaged froin the lowspeedpinion 10. iVhen' thefautomohile is at rest, the ratchet 21 engages: the ratchet 19 and isheld in engagement therewith bythe spring'25. YVh'enthe ratchets 19 and 2 1 are infengagement, the

pin'23 is located, in the frontend ofi theslot 24and the recesses 3201. the sleeve 29. The

rat'chet's wand 21 will when in engagement lioldfthe propeller shattof theautomobile against casual counter-clockwise rotation, and the propeller shaft will in turn hold the rear wheelsof the automobile against casual It surrounds V the shaft 1 1 and is provided lat itsrear side j the ratchet 19against the tension of the spring 25. During "theconsequent rearward movement of the pin 23fwith'respect to the shaft 1 1 the sleeve 29 will'be turned with respect to the shaft tar enoughto position the recesses 33 for the reception 'ofthe pin 23, the sleeve 29 now beingin a position to hold the ratchet 21 against forwards move ment on the shaftl lintoerigagenient with the ratchet 19; Should the automobile autoniatically stop or' be manually stopped, the

ratchet 21 will be moved. forwa'rdly by the spring 25 into engagement with theratchet 19 so as to lock the propeller shaft against counter-'cloclnvise rotation. WVhen the low speed and reverse gear 7 is moved into engageinentavitli the reverse idle gear 12, the gear 7 shoulders against-the flange 18 and carries the shaft 1 1 rearwardlyagainstthe tension of thespring 27. 'This' carries: the

ratchet 21 "out of engagement with the ratchet 19 whereby to free the propeller shaft for rotation in conntcr-clockwise direction. The movenient ofthe lowYspe'ed and reverse gear 7 into neutral position or into engagement with the low speed pinion 1( permits the spring27to return the shaft normal position.

A lock 36 of any well known or appropriateconstruction is carried by the casingl 1n a position to permit it to be readil'y 'operated from the drlvers seat andto permit its bolt 37 tobeprojected into contact with the rear side of the ratchet 21 whens'uchratchet 1s n engagement with the ratchet 19. When the lock bolt 37 is in Contact with the ratchet 21, the propeller shaft of'the automobili i's held against rotation in' both directions, wlth theres'ult-that the'au'tornobil cannot be "stolen whenparked; 7 From the foregoing description, taken in connection" with the .accompanying'drawin' 1 1 and associatedlliarts to and hold'tl' em' the advantages of the construction and oft e method of operation will 'b e readily apparent to those skilled ,in'the'art to which the iiiventionappertains. NVhile I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which 'I now o oi'isider to be the best embodiment;thereof}I desire tohave it understood that'the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desiredasfare within the scope oftheinvention'asclairned; v 7

What is claimed is I shaft, a ratchet carried by the shaft for cooperation with the stationary ratchet, and a gear carried by the shaft and constantly in mesh with one of the gears of the transmission.

2. In combination with the transmission gearing of a vehicle, a stationary ratchet, a shaft, a ratchet carried by the shaft for cooperation with the stationary ratchet, and a gear carried by the shaft and constantly in mesh with the low speed and reverse sliding gear of the transmission.

In combination with the transmission gearing of a vehicle, a stationary ratchet, a shaft supported for rotary and endwise movement, a spring exerting endwise pressure on the shaft, a ratchet carried by the shaft for cooperation with the stationary ratchet, and a gear carried by the shaft and meshing With one of the gears of the transmission.

4. In combination with the transmission gearing of an automobile, a stationary ratchet, a shaft, a ratchet carried by the shaft for rotation therewith and endwise movement with respect thereto and adapted to cooperate with the stationary ratchet, a. spring bearing against the ratchet carried by the shaft, a gear carried by the shaft and meshing with one of the gears of the transmission, and means adapted to hold the ratchet carried by the shaft out of engagement with the stationary ratchet during the rotation of the shaft.

5. In combination with the transmission gearing of a vehicle, a stationary ratchet, a shaft supported. for rotary and endwise movements, a spring exerting an endwise pressure on the shaft, a ratchet carried by the shaft for cooperation with the first named ratchet, and a flanged gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the low speed and reverse sliding gear of the transmission.

6. In combination with the transmission gearing of a vehicle, a stationary ratchet, a rotatable ratchet, means yieldingly holding the rotatable ratchet in engagement with the stationary ratchet, and a gear connected to the rotatable ratchet and constantly in mesh with one of the gears of the transmis sion.

7. In combination with the transmission gearing of a vehicle, a stationary ratchet, a rotatable ratchet, means supporting the rotatable ratchet for endwise movement with respect to the stationary ratchet and yieldingly holding it in engagement with the stationary ratchet, and a flanged gear con nected to the rotatable ratchet and constantly in mesh with one of the gears of the trans mission.

8. In combination with the transmission gearing of a vehicle, a stationary ratchet, a rotatable ratchet, means supporting the rotatable ratchet for endwise movement with respect to the stationary ratchet and yieldingly holding it in engagement With the stationary ratchet, a gear connected to the rotatable ratchet and constantly 111 mesh With one of the gears of the transmission, and means adapted to hold the rotatable ratchet out of engagement with the stationary ratchet while said rotatable ratchet; is in motion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WA LTER B. U FFERT. 

